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A couple of weeks ago a local newspaper interviewed Minister Austin Gatt. The journalist interviewing the minister described him as being blunt rather than brash, and combative rather than cantankerous. Many, I included, find Dr Gatt to fit all four adjectives perfectly. He can be blunt and brash, as well as combative and cantankerous all at the same time. And it appears that all four adjectives stimulate the minister’s ego. At the end of the day, that’s what makes Austin the individual he is, the unique minister he purports to be.
Unfortunately, of the seven chairmen falling under Austin Gatt’s domain that resigned their post, this last year or so, only Ms Marlene Mizzi, the Sea Malta hero, found it appropriate to make public the reasons for her giving up her post. And why not? Why should she permit herself to be used and abused to accommodate government? I mean any government. The pity is that none of the other members on her board follow suit, but surrendered to government’s arrogance.
I do not recall that any of the other six ever uttered a word as to the reasons for quitting their posts. If any of them did I ask him to pardon my short memory. I do not expect Austin to make it public that one had been removed because of incompetence or whatever. On the other hand, if anyone quits a chairmanship for valid reasons, and particularly if one crosses swords with the minister, on matters of principle, one is expected to publicly declare his reasons for quitting the post. After all, the post is funded from the taxpayers’ money, hence one has an obligation toward the public to give reasons for one’s resignation from office. It is also a question of defending one’s pride and integrity. Had Marlene Mizzi kept her mouth shut, one could have easily assumed that she had joined the ranks in Austin’s Rejects Bin.
In the interview in question Austin seems to want to convey the image that he would stand to no nonsense. But is this truly the case? From what one sees and hears, things are completely the reverse. If things were as he says, why is he, and his ministry, under constant attack from friends and foe alike? It is more likely that all those who have resigned their post did so because Austin only tolerates yes men.
Could one really believe Austin Gatt when he refutes insinuations that he (and his government) seek puppets for chairpersons? Could a chairperson truly worth their salt, accept a position that puts him/her in a straitjacket? I get the impression that government appoints chairmen without even caring to issue the appropriate terms of reference. I would not hesitate to say that anyone accepting an appointment, either without any terms of reference, or with terms of reference that puts one in a strait-jacket, is a fool for a director, and a pawn in government’s hands. Such people neither deserve the remuneration they get, nor the respect of the people.
I have serious doubts as to the magnitude of success government’s restructuring exercise will eventually bring about. Let me declare from the outset that, I have long advocated a serious reform in all government entities, without any exceptions whatsoever. To my mind, the reforms should have started from the very top rather than at the lower levels. I mean, from those parasites who, unscrupulously, have been drawing on public funds for years on end, and with little results, if at all, to show for their appointments.
Austin’s defence for the drop in the number of vehicles and passengers crossing over to Gozo as a consequence of higher fares is simply irresponsible. Had it not been so, Gozitans would not have been that irritated with government’s measures. Like many, I too looked forward to a holiday or two a year, in Gozo. This I had to give up, for, with a little bit of extra funding, one may as well visit Europe or North Africa. Mind you, thank God (and a friend) I did cross over to Gozo a few times after the said increases in fares were announced. Luckily, this good friend of mine enjoyed free travelling facilities to our sister island. So whenever I was asked to join my gentle friend across the fliegu I wholeheartedly accepted.
Regarding the national airline fares Dr Gatt claims that these are not high. How can anyone, who travels across the world for free, really acknowledge the high cost of air travel from Malta? I even wonder whether he recalls when he had last paid for an air ticket.
I assume that Messrs Funk and Moore resigned their posts as a result of the expiration of their contracts. Did they ask not to be re-appointed? Or was it government’s decision not to extend their engagement? Has government now realised that the natives could, after all, do the job equally well?
But the minister’s biggest joke of the interview was his claim that it was difficult for PBS to find people, of any nationality, to fill the post of news manager and that of chief executive. Did he by any chance fly out to the USA as one of his predecessors did, in search of competent people? How come his secretariat did not assumed the responsibilities of the two posts? Wouldn’t that have solved the problem Mr Minister?
My bet is that the truly capable potential applicants preferred to stay aloof from seeking employment with the national station?
Why should they bother to waste time and energy and allow themselves to be taken for a ride?
Apparently, things did not seem to have gone according to plan, and the appointment though downsized to that of CEO-designate position, failed to take off the ground. The minister now says that there was no suitable candidate to fill the post. Is it true that according to fresh rumours those that matter at PBS are eagerly awaiting the University results in an attempt to reconsider the unsuitability of the particular candidate? With all these unchallenged rumours going around, how could one believe the minister, and more so expect to hire the right person?
Having said all this, I sincerely trust that Dr Gatt is right, and that the people of these islands will shortly be reaping the fruit of government entities’ reforms.
John G. Borg-Bartolo.
Attard
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